Story reprinted from article first appearing in the November 29, 2006 issue of Post Star.
Great start at Gore. By DAVID BLOW

   Seconds after tightening up my ski boots and taking a sip off my coffee in the Gore Mountain Ski Center lodge Saturday, I walked up to a rosy-cheeked man who was just coming inside from skiing.
    It was opening day at Gore, and before I headed out onto what looked like some really decent terrain given the date, I figured I'd do a little reporting and ask about the conditions.
    Unzipping his coat, Long Island resident Don Enga, who was visiting Gore with his wife and three kids, described them as "great."
    "I came up here last year too, and it's 100 percent better this year," he said. "All the way down it's in great shape."
    He wasn't lying.
    Sure, we skied on essentially two long runs -- Topridge for one and Ruby Run-Sunway-Quick Silver-3B-Jamboree as the other -- but the low temperature and decent depth of man-made snow did make for some really nice skiing.
    At about 11 a.m., the expert Topridge was bumped up and as steep as ever -- maybe more bumped up and steeper than I needed for the first run of the year. But I navigated it fine and on subsequent runs the flow came back. I feel it takes a few runs each year to really get the fluid ski motion back anyway.
    I was with two friends, a local guy-turned New Jersey transplant and a local plumber whom I ski with at least a few times a year.
    And on a trip through the lodge after our runs, I ran into a friend I met through my children's grade school playground area, who was on day one of his two-day tryout to become a Gore snowboard instructor.
    That friend, Joe DeFelice, gushed about the conditions, and when I talked to him a few days later, he said Sunday's conditions were even better.
    "The snow was much better on Sunday. They did a really good job grooming," he said, saying by late day Saturday conditions had deteriorated -- as expected.
    DeFelice, who did get hired by the way, said Wednesday that it was the best November skiing he can remember.
    "Excluding Sunday River about 12 years ago," he said. "I was surprised how good it was."

      Gore Mountain Marketing Director Emily Stanton said conditions remain good -- despite the recent rain.
    "I was out again today and it was phenomenal," she said, adding that there are three miles of terrain open.   
    Stanton said Gore plans to offer more terrain by Friday including Pine Knot and Tannery and more of Sunway is expected to be open by Saturday.
    And for those of you who read last week about my kids really wanting to ski, I didn't take them, in part because they had hair-cut appointments.
    But I also wasn't sure how crowded it would be and what the conditions were like, and I hate for their first outing to be disappointing. The last thing I want to do is turn off their desire to ski.
    Oh, and when I got home, I got a dirty look from the 7-year-old and was labeled a "no-taker."
    West Mt. plans opening
    The snow guns have been cranking at West Mountain Ski Center in Queensbury, and had it not been for the recent ark-building-like rain in recent days, a Monday opening day wasn't out of the question, said Rob Rajeski, guest services and operations manager.
    But it did rain, and now that date is being pushed back to Dec 8-9, where skiers and riders can take to the hill for $15 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    Tubing isn't expected to start until at least Dec. 15, he said.
    Warren Miller in Queensbury
    Well not actually Warren Miller himself, but his latest movie "Playground." The Ski West Mountain Education Foundation is hosting Miller's latest action packed skiing and riding flick in the Queensbury High School Auditorium on Saturday with three showings at 1:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.
    Cost is $12 and tickets can be purchased at the door or at West Mountain Ski Center. Proceeds benefit the foundation, which helps train area ski racers.
    Gore special offers
    From now until Dec. 15, Gore is offering $10 off your lift ticket price when you bring a non-perishable food item for the annual food drive.
     In addition, Gore is offering $25 lift tickets on Friday Dec. 7 as part of the Sports Page Demo Day.
    David Blow may be reached at davent67@hotmail.com
 

 

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